Temperatures could reach 36C in some parts of the country this week, prompting councils in Hampshire, North Yorkshire and Oxford to introduce temporary collection arrangements. The measures vary between local authorities, with some crews starting work as early as 5am.
The changes are intended to protect the health and wellbeing of waste collection staff during periods of extreme heat while allowing services to continue. Residents affected by the revised schedules have been urged to check local arrangements and make their bins accessible before crews arrive.
According to Southampton City Council, residents should ensure their bins are outside before 5.30am on collection days until further notice. Eastleigh Borough Council introduced the same starting time on 6 July, while Fareham Borough Council is also adopting the earlier schedule.
Hampshire and North Yorkshire Councils Bring Collections Forward
The revised arrangements affect several parts of Hampshire, although not every council in the county has changed its schedule. Test Valley Borough Council and New Forest District Council had made no changes at the time of the reports provided.
A spokesperson for the Hampshire councils said the welfare of collection crews remained a priority and that staff were being supported to work safely during periods of high temperatures. Residents would be informed if any further changes became necessary.
Further north, North Yorkshire Council also confirmed earlier waste collections in the Craven and Harrogate areas on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 July. According to the council, the decision was taken because of the extreme heat and was intended to help crews stay safe.
Residents with collections scheduled for those two days were asked to put their bins out and make them accessible earlier than their usual collection time. The council thanked households for their cooperation as teams adjusted their working hours.
Oxford City Council and ODS introduced similar temporary measures, with collections starting from 5am. Residents were asked to put bins out on the evening before their scheduled collection day to reduce the risk of missing an earlier round.
According to Councillor Nigel Chapman, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies, the temporary changes were designed to keep staff safe and well while minimising disruption to residents.
Warm Weather Remains Possible as the Outlook Becomes More Mixed
The collection changes come as the UK experiences its third heatwave of the summer. Forecasts suggest temperatures will remain warm or very warm for many areas, although conditions may become less settled later in July.
The Met Office expects high pressure to remain north of the UK from 13 July onwards, with low pressure positioned over the Bay of Biscay. This pattern is likely to bring prevailing easterly winds and generally settled conditions across much of the country during the early part of the period.
There will also be a risk of thunderstorms spreading into southern parts of the UK from France at times. Temperatures are expected to be warm or very warm for most areas and perhaps hot in the south-west, though probably not as hot as recently.
Towards the end of July and into August, the forecast signal becomes increasingly mixed, with spells of low pressure and unsettled conditions becoming more likely. Thunderstorms may still occur, alongside dry intervals most likely in southern and south-eastern areas.
Temperatures are expected to remain warm or very warm, while further spells of hot weather remain possible. For now, councils that have revised waste collection schedules are asking residents to follow local instructions as crews work altered hours during the current period of high temperatures.
